If the Windsor Spitfires want to raise a banner next season, it’s going to take a team effort. They moved one step closer to that on Sunday, taking two important points from a long-time conference rival.
While the club is limping into the playoffs with multiple injuries, including forwards A.J. Spellacy (Chicago Blackhawks) and Nathan Villeneuve (Seattle Kraken), they’re still in the hunt for the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) 2025-26 West Division title. They came into Sunday’s game against the London Knights just three points behind the Flint Firebirds with four games left. Despite having four of their top six forwards out of the lineup, they put together a big team effort and came away with a statement win. Here are three takeaways.
Spitfires’ Depth Comes Through
When you have four of your top six forwards out of the lineup, it’s going to be tough on any team. However, the Spitfires are making no excuses and came into Sunday ready to battle the Knights.
In last season’s playoffs, the club saw eight regulars out with injury or illness. Head coach Greg Walters used the “next man up” approach where players have to step up and fill roles. Many of the younger talents got experience from that, which is now paying off. With the injuries happening again, the approach has returned.
As they saw on Thursday, defencemen Anthony Cristoforo and Carson Woodall moved up front for the Spitfires again. While they started off slow by allowing the first four shots and the opening goal, they turned the momentum quickly. They responded with three to end the first period – singles from defencemen Andrew Robinson and Conor Walton, along with one from Jack Nesbitt (Philadelphia Flyers), for a 3-1 lead.
In the second, Woodall got into the action along with rookie Beksultan Makysh. They were joined by Robinson, who planted two more for his first OHL hat trick. It was as dominating a period as the Spitfires have had in a while, outshooting the visitors 13-4. The Knights had no answers as the home side threw every line and found a way to produce. In the third period, the teams split a pair of late goals as they played simple hockey to wind the game down for an 8-2 Spitfires win.
Related: 3 Takeaways from Spitfires’ 4-3 OT Loss at Home vs Greyhounds
After the game, Walters said he didn’t like their start but loved the overall effort and how everyone, from the first line to the fourth line, stepped up.
“We didn’t start well but took over the game,” he said. “We weren’t in great structure and weren’t managing the puck. They were winning 50-50 pucks and getting shots. We turned that tide and dominated the rest of the game. For those kids to step up and do what they do. We like how we’re playing, and hopefully we get some bodies back soon.”
Injuries aren’t fun, especially when they’re some of your best players. However, having the depth to get through it and earn two points is going to be valuable come the playoffs.
Robinson Earns First Hat Trick
At the top of the list for big games from those depth players was Robinson. The Spitfires’ third-round pick in 2024 signed with the club late last season when a similar injury issue arose before the playoffs. He jumped into action and performed very well. Now, he’s using that experience to his advantage.
The 6-foot, 187-pound Oakville native came into Sunday with six goals and 21 points through 59 games. He’s one of those defencemen who don’t always get noticed but plays a smart, smooth game at both ends.
Sunday’s hat trick was his first in the OHL. The first goal came on a cross-zone pass from Nesbitt before beating goaltender Sebastian Gatto. The second was a point shot past a distracted backup Aleksei Medvedev. Finally, the third was a rebound that he pinched to backhand past Medvedev. After the game, he said this was just his day to step up.
“It’s one of those things where, when guys are out, guys have to step up,” he said. “With the young core that we have, anyone in the room could have stepped up. Today it was me, Tuesday (at home against the Erie Otters) it could be somebody else.”
Windsor #Spitfires‘ 08-born defenceman Andrew Robinson scored his first #OHL hat-trick in an 8-2 win over the London #Knights at the WFCU Centre on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/x4cjSENbKI
— Dave Jewell (@DaveJewellOHL) March 16, 2026
He said the last time he scored a hat trick was in minor hockey. However, for the first goal, he said all the credit went to his linemate.
“All the credit goes to Nesbitt,” he said. “That pass he gave me, find the seam, that’s why he’s (the Flyers’) first-round pick.”
Walters was all smiles when talking about Robinson after the game. He said he wasn’t sure who the youngster was last season when they started training camp, but now, there’s nothing but praise for him.
“We saw it last season how good he was coming up,” Walters said. “When he came to camp (in 2024-25), I didn’t know who he was, and he ends up playing 20-minutes a night for us in the playoffs. He’s just gotten better and better. He’s a plus-34, great poise, defends extremely well, skates well, can see the ice, and he’s been awesome.”
Nobody expects Robinson to repeat Sunday’s hat trick every night. However, if he can continue to show that offensive awareness while maintaining his defensive poise and structure, it bodes very well for the short-and-long-term.
Spitfires Remain Focused on Division Title
The Spitfires could have easily looked at their injuries and decided that getting the division title wasn’t worth it. They could have played a relaxed game on Sunday and let the chips fall where they may. That didn’t happen, though. Instead, they took it to the defending Memorial Cup champions, outshot them 36-18, and had all four lines (and two defensive pairings) get in on the scoring. This is a club that wants that West Division Champion banner raised next season.
With the Spitfires up 7-1 after 40 minutes on Sunday, the game could have easily gotten out of hand. The two clubs are bitter rivals dating back generations. In the heat of the moment, things happen. However, Walters said he made it clear in the second intermission that the playoffs and the division title are too important.
“That’s all we talked about after the second,” he said. “We’re not sitting back, we’ll keep going after them. Absolutely no penalties. I didn’t even care if they hit, just angle on top of them. Just staying away from anything. It’s so important for suspensions and moving forward into the playoffs.”
Robinson added that the room is very focused on getting every point they can, every win they can, because their inner competitors want that title.
“It means everything in our room,” he said. “We’re all very competitive people, and losing games is the last thing we want to do. Just trying to win every game we can, get as many points as we can, and finish first in our division.”
With the win, the Spitfires pull to within one point of the Firebirds with three games left. Walters’ group faces the rebuilding Otters at home on Tuesday before road games on Friday (Knights) and Sunday (Soo Greyhounds).
The Firebirds play Tuesday and Wednesday on the road against the Kitchener Rangers and Owen Sound Attack, respectively, before wrapping up at home on Saturday against the Knights.
